Ribbon Cutting For Tulsa's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

By Chris Wright, The News On 6

CATOOSA, OK -- The Tulsa area is now home to only the seventh Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in the world. The ribbon cutting is set for Monday, but The News On 6 got a sneak peak at the much-anticipated casino and resort.

The transition from Cherokee Casino to the Hard Rock is officially complete. It's been two years in the making, but Cherokee Nation says it was worth it.

"We feel that the Hard Rock brand is very consistent with good entertainment, having fun, just a good rich culture," said David Stewart, Cherokee Nation Entertainment.

One of the first things that come to mind when you think of the Hard Rock is memorabilia. It's now all up in the display cases and includes pieces from Prince, Elvis - even the Spice Girls.

"We've got pieces from the 80s, the 90s, and like I said, something for everybody," said Warwick Stone who is in charge of aquiring and assembling Hard Rock's memorabilia.

He says some of the best pieces from the company's vast collection are now on display in Catoosa.

"It's been planned for a year, but we brought a lot of the memorabilia in just a few days ago, and we're rapidly hanging it up," Stone said.

There are also changes once you get off of the ground floor.

One of the casino's centerpieces is McGill 19, a steak restaurant up on the 19th floor, as well as a new nightclub in the middle of the ground floor.

This will be the Heartland's only Hard Rock, and Cherokee Nation says getting to this point was worth the effort.

"Well, it's two years of a lot of work to bring what we think will be the best place to go in Oklahoma, in Tulsa," David Stewart said.

"So we're proud to bring it."

Cherokee Chief Chad Smith will officially unveil the Hard Rock during tomorrow's ceremony, which takes place at 1:30.

The Hard Rock will also feature a Toby Keith's 'I Love This Bar and Grill.' The country star will be on hand for the unveiling Monday afternoon.